7 Most used Techniques for Skin Retouching

[sherief mohamed]

Here is a 7 skin retouching techniques they are almost close in results , but some retouchers
Prefer to use just one tool of them for many reasons ..

We are gonna show its results , and learn how to use each one

1. Smudge tool :

How to use :
1. Select the smudge tool , make it's strength from 4 % to 6 % depends on the
Smoothing strength you need ( picture no 1 ) .
2. Edit the smudge settings from brushes settings bar , sign on
Scattering , noise . ( picture no 2 )
3. Edit the brush tip shape by removing the sign from spacing , make the angle
-25 degree . ( picture no 2 )
4. Now you can retouch skin using the smudge , move on the skin smoothly in
A circle way all over the skin .

Tip :
For the dark and narrow skin areas make the brush size smaller ,
In order to prevent removing face and skin details .

Comment :
Smudge tool is almost the easiest fastest and more flexability in retouching photos
Also you're able to reduce it's strength if you don't prefer smoothing heavily .

 

[sherief mohamed]

2.Healing brush tool :

How to use :
1. Select the healing brush tool from the tools bar ( picture no 1 ) .
2. Press ( alt ) + mouse left click on the area you want to copy the
Skin texture .
3. Press mouse left click on the area that you want to clear and
Remove spots from .
4. Continue the process on all over the skin .

Tip :
Try to copy the clear skin area from the most close place to
The spot that you want to fix .

Comment :
Healing brush tool works very well with peoples who don't like thier photos to
Be retouched , just to remove some acne and that's it , also works great with
Old peoples with out smoothing , just for little face enhancing .

 

[sherief mohamed]

3.Gussian blur filter :

How to use :
1. Select the skin area that you want to retouch using the
Pen tool from the tools bar .
2. Make feather 2 or 3 ( shortcut for feather : ctrl + alt + d )
And press ok .
3. Press (ctrl + j ) to make a new layer for the selected area ( picture no 1 ) .
4. From filter > blur > gussian blur , increase the gussian blur filter
Radius until it smooth the skin , press ok .
5. Select the eraser tool from the photoshop tools bar , make the eraser
Brush hardness 0 % .
6. Start to erase the eye area , lips , nose dark areas , and the face details
From the new layer .

Tip :
Using gussian blur filter needs a professional and a flexible hand to
Give a good results .

Comment :
Gussian blur is considered as old photoshop fashion , it doesn't give the exact results
That you're looking for , cause it needs alot of time to give a good results .

 

[sherief mohamed]

4.C.PAC filter :

How to use :
1. Select the skin using the circle selecting tool from the tools bar ( picture no 1 ) .
2. Erase the details areas from the skin using the eraser ( picture no 2 ) .
3. Press ( go to step 2 ) from the right side bar ( picture no 2 ) .
4. Save the picture .

Tip :
Cpac is a smart filter so don't worry if the eraser or selecting circle tool
Selected some areas outside the skin , it will not retouch the outside areas .

Comment :
C pac filter , its preferd for old peoples and ( old black & white photographs )
As it can be used also for removing old photographs papers effects , when
Using c pac it makes retouching with making cells so it makes a skin texture
Not like the other techniques which just smooth skin .

 

[sherief mohamed]

5.Clone stamp tool:

How to use :
1. Select clone stamp tool ( picture no 1 ) .
2. Make opacity 100 % , flow from 30 % to 60 % depends on smoothing
Level you need .
3. Press ( alt ) + mouse left click on the area you want to copy the
Skin texture and color .
4. Press mouse left click on the area that you want to smooth .
5. Continue the process on all over the skin .

Tip :
Using clone stamp needs a professional and a flexible professional
Hand to give a good results .

Comment :
Clone stamp also is considered old fashion , takes long time , hevy in smoothing
Weather there are some retouchers who still retouch using this tool .

 

[sherief mohamed]

6.Brush & eyedropper tool :

How to use :
1. Select eyedropper from the tools bar ( short cut : I ) ( picture no 2 ) .
2. Get the color tone from the darker areas around the reflection .
3. Select brush tool from the tools bar ( shortcut : B ) ( picture no 1 ) .
4. Move using the brush tool slightly on the reflection area .
5. Get another color tone from a different area around the reflection .
6. Keep the process untill the reflection is gone .

Tip :
Needs a professional hand to keep doing the process fast and
Continious to show its great effect .

Comment :
A great tool which not popular for some retouchers , like here in the example
As it works better for skin reflections more than bright or curves or levels
By getting the skin color from around the area that needs to be retouched
And brushing in the needed area

 

[sherief mohamed]

7.Imagenomic portirature filter :

How to use :
1. Open the portirature filter ( picture no 1 ) .
2. If the filter doesn't retouch well , select the eyedropper tool
From the filter side bar , choose more than a color tone from the skin .
2. Press ok .

Tip:
This filter is fast and easy to work with , it works automaticly
No need to edit settings , except in some specific pictures sitiuations

Comment :
A great filter .. fast , professional , works with all kinds of photos
Old or new photographs .. for old peoples wrinkles and normal skin

 

[sherief mohamed]

please allow me to say WOOOOOOW

that took a very long time

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Sherief,

You have give a broad introduction to the myriad of possible ways to approach needed altering skin with a subtle approach. I think that using any tool requires another step, and that is a mask on that layer to only adjust the geographic extent of the change what is needed as well as it's percent contribution. So, for each effect, one has to pull back from what one has done.

So let's take that blur tool. Even though it's overdone, n your example, it can be better use with an added mask to fine time those effects.

Asher

 

[sherief mohamed]

Hi Sherief,

You have give a broad introduction to the myriad of possible ways to approach needed altering skin with a subtle approach. I think that using any tool requires another step, and that is a mask on that layer to only adjust the geographic extent of the change what is needed as well as it's percent contribution. So, for each effect, one has to pull back from what one has done.

So let's take that blur tool. Even though it's overdone, n your example, it can be better use with an added mask to fine time those effects.

Asher

you can do it professionally with out using mask , i can give more time to make it look more professionally .. but you know ( you can read the how to use it explain every thing , also its not preferd for retouching cause its too much heavy .. rare retouchers who use this Techniques